Mid July US downstream update

The US Department of Energy is making a US$ 105 million loan guarantee to support the nation’s first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg. The project will produce approximately 25 million tpy of ethanol and will use corncobs, leaves and husks provided by local farmers, as opposed to traditional feed grains.

Kansas

Coffeyville Resources’ 115 700 bpd refinery in Coffeyville reported flaring on July 9 due to an unspecified emergency event.

Louisiana

Shintech is expected to complete the construction of a second vinyls plant at Plaquemine by the end of the year, at the cost of US$ 1 billion. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce 800 000 tpy of VCM, 530 000 tpy of caustic soda and 600 000 tpy of PVC.

Ohio

Units are returning to service at Husky Energy Inc.’s 155 000 bpd Lima plant, with the complex running at over 80% capacity as on July 8 as a coker goes back online. Husky shut the plant for repairs June 27 after a leak was found in a crude unit furnace.

Pennsylvania

Sunoco Inc reported a wet gas compressor shutdown at the gasoline making fluid catalytic cracker at its 335 000 bpd refinery in Philadelphia on July 8.

Texas

The ultraformer at BP’s 475 000 bpd Texas City refinery was scheduled to start on 8July, as the plant plans to return to normal operations by July 12. BP has struggled to bring the facility back to normal operations following a citywide power outage in April.

Petrochemical producer Formosa Plastics Corporation is expected to start operating its chlor-alkali and ethylene dichloride unit at additional capacity in Point Comfort by mid-July, according to a company source. After its 25% planned expansion capacity has concluded, the total production of the chlor-alkali plant will be 200 000 tpy.

Exxon Mobil Corp. expects an electrical malfunction that occurred ion July 5 to affect production at its 344 500 bpd refinery in Beaumont. The malfunction affected one of the refinery's processing units, causing a temporary excess of fuel gas within the process heater and abnormal firing patterns.

Total Petrochemicals USA reported a cogeneration unit malfunction on July 8 at its 232 000 bpd refinery in Port Arthur, due to steam valve not functioning properly. Following the problem, the steam valve was repaired and NOx steam was introduced back to unit and returned to compliant conditions.